Andorra Awards €456K Scholarships to 150 High-Performance Athletes

The Andorra High Performance Programme (ARA) has allocated €456,346 in direct scholarships for 51 athletes in its 21st cycle, part of a total investment of €715,636 when including €259,289 in service scholarships for 99 additional participants. This represents a 15.22% increase from the previous season, bringing the programme's overall membership to 374 people, including 224 in the sport-study initiative—up from 354 last year.

Direct aid rose 4.4% from €437,106 despite one fewer elite-level recipient, while service scholarships jumped 40.92% from €184,000 with seven more beneficiaries. The funding trend has grown 90.17% since the 2023-2024 cycle under the current government.

Elite athletes, numbering eight as before, receive €235,620 in total, plus €30,380 for CASS contributions. Top awards go to Mònica Doria and Joan Verdú (€32,000 each), Roger Puig (€30,000, up €8,000), Irineu Esteve (€27,000), Nahuel Carabaña (€25,000), Gina del Rio (€22,000), and Pol Moya and Cande Moreno (€18,000 each).

The pre-elite category now covers two athletes, down from five: Ariadna Fenés (€6,000) and Arnau Soldevila (€3,000), the latter after reducing his competition schedule with the Andorran Mountaineering Federation.

Prospects funding totals €170,500 for 29 individuals, up from 26. Standouts include Oriol Olm (€16,000), Naiara Liñán (€15,000, boosted €9,500 after her Mediterranean Games bronze in Taranto), Max Palmitjavila (€12,000, up €4,500), and Biel Cuen (€4,000, up €2,000). Seven repeat individual-sport recipients get up to €3,000 each. Collective prospects aid seven athletes with €41,226.

Young prospects support five athletes: Etna Pou (€4,000), Nil Checa (€3,000), Noa Godoy (€2,000), Ona Perelegre (€2,000), and Max Black (€2,000).

The sport-study programme grew by 13 participants to 224 across six federations: football (130, now including 20 futsal players), skiing (61), basketball (15), swimming (10), judo (5), and tennis (3). It spans Andorran (108), Spanish (58), French (50), and international (8) education systems.

A new PROES guidance initiative, led by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports with the Youth and Volunteering Area and Educational and Professional Orientation Centre, provides tailored academic and career-transition support. Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Mònica Bonell said the increases reflect a commitment to Andorran sport, noting satisfaction with legislative goals and infrastructure investments. Secretary of State for Youth and Sports Alain Cabanes pointed to prospects nearing elite status.

Athletes benefit from a one-year grace period before aid adjustments for unmet targets.